FAQs

Aperiomics will want to talk to clinicians for the first time account setups. This is a painless process and we will have someone to help them along the way. An Aperiomics representative will call to notify the clinician’s office when the report is done.

We will not contact doctors until patients submit their sample to us for testing. If patients would like us to contact their doctor before ordering a collection kit, just let us know and we will reach out to them.

Aperiomics is a biotechnology company that saves lives. Healthcare providers and patients call on us to identify infectious diseases that other tests have missed. We are the only company of its kind and scope in the world. Aperiomics can identify any known pathogen (bacteria, virus, fungi or parasite) in a single test through next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the DNA or RNA in a patient’s sample. Then we compare the genetic fingerprint of that sample against the Aperiomics Microbial Database™, a comprehensive database of microorganisms, including the world’s largest collection of pathogens. We then send a report of all identified pathogens and non-pathogens, including the abundance of each. Our technology helps medical professionals solve difficult medical cases, remove guesswork and limit the use of antibiotics.

No, patients or general customers do not need to be sick to be tested. In some cases it may be desired to know one’s normal microbial population. Aperiomics can perform a complete metagenomic microbiome assessment from any clinical sample. One may use that as a baseline in case they do get sick for comparison.

Do I have to be a doctor to order your testing services?admin2018-11-08T14:08:06+00:00

Aperiomics typically requires a clinician be involved in the collection and ordering of our testing. This allows for the proper documentation for potential insurance reimbursement, as well as allowing for proper interpretation of results for the patient.

Yes. All known forms of Lyme and tick-bourne diseases are in the Aperiomics Microbial Database. Since Lyme Disease is very cryptic and likes to hide itself in various parts of the body, we recommend collection of blood, swab, urine and fecal samples to best chance of capturing the pathogen in the collection kits. If the pathogens are not in a kit, we won’t be able to find it!

Why would there be a need to test multiple samples at one time?admin2018-11-08T14:11:16+00:00

In some cases, if there is not a clear, single site of infection, we will request that multiple samples be collected and tested. We cannot identify the microorganism(s) causing infection unless it is physically collected in the samples. Thus, we will request multiple sample to ensure the best possible results.

Is there anything to be careful of when shipping samples?admin2018-11-08T14:12:32+00:00

When collected as instructed, samples are rendered non-infectious and stable at ambient temperatures for up to 30 days. The supplies shipping materials will return the sample next-day, and thus no special concerns are needed when shipping samples back to Aperiomics.

Are there any medications, probiotics, or treatment to discontinue before testing?admin2018-11-08T14:16:28+00:00

For us to get the best possible sample, it is typically recommended that all anti-infective treatments be stopped 3 days prior to sample collection. This should be discussed with a healthcare provider. Probiotics should be stopped 14 days prior. All anti-infective treatments and probiotics should be listed on the requisition form.

Do the biologicial samples have to be refrigerated or frozen?admin2018-11-08T14:18:22+00:00

No. Our specialized collection kits contain a solution that renders samples non-infectious and keeps the genetic material that we need intact for up to 30 days at room temperature. Combined with our supplied packing materials, it also makes it safe for shipping… so no need to worry.

How is the appropriate type of sample(s) for testing determined and what collection kits should be ordered?admin2018-11-08T14:20:59+00:00

Physicians should be able to tell patients which kit or kits they’ll need to help identify the pathogens causing your illness. While a single kit may be needed, in some instances patients may require additional kits (blood, swab, urine, fecal, tissue or semen) to capture the pathogens at the suspected source of the infection. We won’t be able to give the best information if the microbes causing the issue aren’t collected in the kit!

How long does it take to get the test results?admin2018-11-08T14:24:44+00:00

A healthcare provider, analyzing our results along with the patient’s clinical history, will help patient’s understand the results of their testing. We provide one-on-one support for healthcare providers to understand our reports.

Is Aperiomics testing covered by insurance?admin2018-11-08T14:30:10+00:00

Aperiomics is now providing insurance billing on a case-by-case basis. To determine if a patient’s insurance coverage qualifies for us to bill our services, we will need to do a verification of benefits prior to any testing. Patients will need to send their name, date of birth, contact information, and copies of the front and back of the patient’s insurance card. After the verification of benefits is complete, we will contact the patient with the details of your coverage, including any out of pocket payment required before we start testing. In some cases, patients will only be required to pay a $200/sample co-insurance plus shipping/handling charges. Please contact us for details.

How does Aperiomics testing differ from what other companies offer?admin2018-11-08T14:31:59+00:00

Most labs test for just one or a handful of pathogens at a time. Others are only focuse on one aspect like bacteria. Aperiomics tests for ALL known pathogens at once! This is the most comprehensive testing available on the market and one of the best options for identifying chronic or cryptic infections.

Culture is a 100+ year old technology that is limited to identifying only what will grow in culture. Given that many microorganisms will not grow in culture, this technology is dramatically limited in the number of microorganisms that can be identified. Culture creates bias because just one bacterial cell can grow and render a sample positive for that bacteria, irrespective of if that bacteria is causing an active infection. Additionally, culture does not allow for consistent, objective identification of microorganisms to the species level.

Not all NGS techniques are the same though, there are multiple different forms. Some, used by our competitors only look at bacteria and have difficulty looking at the species and strain level. The type of NGS we use, called shotgun metagenomic sequencing, is one of the most powerful among NGS techniques able to do it all.

Shotgun metagenomics is more specific than culture can be because it identifies the identity of microorganisms according to the genetic sequence and not simply appearance of growth in culture.

What’s the difference between PCR and next-generation sequencing testing?admin2018-11-08T15:00:21+00:00

PCR is a technology that makes many copies of a small portion of a microorganism’s genetic information. It can be inexpensive and sensitive, but is extremely limited in how many microorganisms can be identified in a single test – typically less than a dozen in one test. Further, because PCR creates many copies of small genetic pieces, it is heavily biased and cannot be used to assess abundance of microbial populations.

In contrast, NGS (shotgun metagenomic sequencing) creates a genetic fingerprint of everything in the sample. It is a much more comprehensive approach, capable of identifying tens of thousands of microorganisms in one sample, only limited by the availability of sequence data. Aperiomics’ approach to NGS reduces as much bias as possible and allows abundance of microbial populations to be assessed.

16S NGS is similar to PCR in that it creates many copies of specific genetic information. These copies are then compared to a database to identify the bacteria present in a given sample. 16S sequencing is good at identifying thousands of bacteria to the genus level, but is unable to identify virus, fungi, or parasites. Deep shotgun metagenomics sequencing, on the other hand, is able to identify tens of thousands of microorganisms and differentiate species of bacteria, virus, parasites, and fungi.

What does Aperiomics have planned in the future?admin2017-07-10T19:56:41+00:00